THE HERON. 
135 
Aji exception to the lieron^s mode of return^ as described, is 
indicated in the following note : — Nov. 11, 1840. A siin-bright 
lovely day. Wlien walking for three miles along the Antrim shore 
of the bay from Belfast, after the tide had a little receded, the 
birds, which were very nnmerons near the road, proved extremely 
interesting. Dunlins and ringed dotterel were flying in little 
troops, uttering their pleasing cries, and moving towards the great 
body of not less than a thousand of their species. Kedshanks, 
attracting immediate attention by their loud and lively whistle, 
appeared most graceful as they alighted, and the handsomely 
formed wing, flung up so as to exhibit the under surface at 
the moment they touched the ground, flashed in silvery wliiteiiess 
upon the sight. The sea gulls, in their snowy garb, were as usual 
highly attractive ; but the herons bore off the palm from all the 
others. After having been driven from the banks by a high tide, 
they Avere returning, now that it had ebbed ; and the whole 
expanse of sky before me was enlivened by their presence. At 
one view, spread singly over the atmosphere, I reckoned fifty. 
The many-coloured sky, chiefly blue, with white and rich yelloAv 
clouds, against wliich they were seen, much enhanced their ap- 
pearance. I have occasionally, though not to-day, remarked the 
wlhte portion of the heroiTs plmnage to look beautifully roseate, 
with the rich tints of the setting sun upon it. 
In the demesnes alluded to on the Antrim shore, the herons 
seldom perch on trees — apparently never through choice — by day; 
but they roost on those at Tort WiUiam, &c. during the night. 
Instead of the movements just detailed, the following is the 
practice during neap tides. As remarked on September 20, 1838, 
tliirty-two herons appeared standing together on a small portion 
of the beach surrounded by the tide (about a hundred yards from 
the road), awaiting its ebb. An hour afterwards they were nearly all 
in the same spot, the banks being not yet sufficiently uncovered. 
On the 24th of the same month, thirty-six of these birds were con- 
gregated at the same place during high water, and looked very 
picturescpie. Most of them were motionless; but others, espe- 
cially those about the edge of their little island, were in various 
